Watch Adrian Forte ‘Chef That!' Fried Plantain with Scotch Bonnet Aioli
This simple starter of fried plantains quickly became the star of the menu at Adrian Forte's modern Caribbean restaurant Lucia, which opened on Fairfax Avenue in the spring. The flavors of caramelized, crispy, sweet-savory plantains are heightened with a pickled Scotch bonnet aioli that's based on a recipe from Forte's 'Yawd' cookbook and served on the side.
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Los Angeles Times
17 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Watch Adrian Forte ‘Chef That!' Fried Plantain with Scotch Bonnet Aioli
Get the recipe. This simple starter of fried plantains quickly became the star of the menu at Adrian Forte's modern Caribbean restaurant Lucia, which opened on Fairfax Avenue in the spring. The flavors of caramelized, crispy, sweet-savory plantains are heightened with a pickled Scotch bonnet aioli that's based on a recipe from Forte's 'Yawd' cookbook and served on the side.
Eater
12-08-2025
- Eater
This Frozen Penicillin Recipe Is the Cure for Mid-Aughts Nostalgia
is the James Beard Award-winning managing editor at Eater and Punch. Living in Baltimore, she prefers her crab cakes broiled and her Boulevardiers with rye whiskey. The year was 2005 and bartenders were nose deep in cocktail books. 'I was happier to find an old recipe and give that some shine or adapt it rather than just snatching one out of thin air,' says bartender and restauranteur Dan Greenbaum. 'We were looking for hidden jewels.' Greenbaum's former business partner, Sam Ross, was doing just that at the subterranean West Village bar Little Branch. While he was tinkering with variations on a classic whiskey sour, the owner of Compass Box Whisky came in with some Scotch and the nutty, caramel-like qualities of the Peat Monster added complexity to Ross's simple formula of honey, lemon, and ginger. And the Penicillin was born. 'The fact that those flavors are curative and familiar, but you just add a twist of smokier whisky really speaks to that moment and Sam and the ethos of the time,' Greenbaum says. 'No one had done it on paper, but it felt like it had been a classic for years.' So when the two bartenders (plus Michael McIlroy) opened up the tropical bar Diamond Reef in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, they brought the Penicillin with them. Using the same ingredients, but tweaking the ratio a bit, they made a frozen version to put inside their Frosty Factory machines, and came up with the 'cheeky' name Penichillin. To add to the playful spirit, Greenbaum found Kikkoman soy sauce bottles and poured a Scotch floater out of them right before serving. 'The idea behind the bar was to put out drinks very fast in a bit of a rowdy atmosphere on the patio,' he remembers. 'By putting the Penicillin in the frozen machine, it bridged the gap between this serious cocktail bar and a tropical, fun environment.' A commercial slushie machine isn't necessary to recreate that vibe at home. Just break out the blender and play with your ratios, Greenbaum advises. 'The rule of thumb with frozen drinks is to up the sweetener a little bit because you perceive something as dryer when it's ice cold,' he says. Start with three-quarters of an ounce of honey-ginger syrup to two ounces of Scotch and a scoop of crushed ice, and then taste along the way. Even though Diamond Reef closed in 2021, the Penichillin remained a top-seller until the very end. And its predecessor can be found on menus around the world, has become a modern classic in its own right, and is something that cocktail aficionados make a pilgrimage to New York to experience. 'The drink changed so many people's minds about Scotch,' Greenbaum says. 'Even a mediocre Penicillin is more interesting than most drinks.' Frozen Penicillin Recipe Serving: 1 Ingredients: 2 ounces blended Scotch whisky (or black tea, to make it N/A) ¾ ounce honey-ginger syrup (see below) ¾ ounce lemon juice ¼ cup ice Peated Scotch whisky (or lapsang souchong as the float, to make it N/A) Instructions: Step 1: In a blender, combine the first four ingredients and blend until smooth. Step 2: Pour into a footed Irish whiskey glass. Step 3: Gently pour the peated whiskey on top of the drink. Step 4: Serve with a straw and garnish with a paper parasol. Honey-Ginger Syrup Recipe Ingredients: 8 ounces honey 1 (6-inch) piece of ginger root, peeled and sliced 8 ounces water Instructions: Step 1: Combine the honey with the ginger root and water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes. Refrigerate overnight, then strain, discarding the solids. Dina Ávila is a photographer living in Portland, Oregon. Recipe tested by Ivy Manning
San Francisco Chronicle
10-08-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oasis' last hurrah? San Francisco queer nighclub acts shine at Outside Lands
Oasis showcased a lineup of high-energy acts during the second day of Outside Lands, reminding festivalgoers why it's long been San Francisco's premier queer nightclub — even as it counts down to its closure. The South of Market LGBTQ nightclub announced last month that they would close their doors for good at the end of the year, citing lower bar revenue and surging insurance costs. The club's last night open will take place on New Year's Eve, a full circle moment since opening on New Year's Day in 2025. But during Oasis' showcase on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the festival's pop-up queer space Dolores' performers from the club's nonprofit, Oasis Arts, spoke only of hope for the future as they drew in crowds to the multi-colored stage. 'It's sad, but the show must go on — and we put on a great show,' entertainer Marshalls Forte told the Chronicle before taking to the stage. Forte, a lead actor in the club's parody musical 'Jurrasiq Parq,' performed early Saturday afternoon with a posse of scantily clad dancers. It was just a taste of the campy production that runs at Oasis through Sept. 13. Oasis Arts, which intends to continue the club's mission of uplifting LGBTQ artists, was the second collective to host programming at Dolores', an open-air dance venue at the festival dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ nightlife. It presented a variety of performances, including go-go dancers from 'Reparations,' a monthly all-Black drag show, as well as a DJ set by Outside Lands veteran and the Queen of Bounce herself, Big Freedia. There were also appearances from a few of the club's most well-known local performers, 'Reparations' founder Nicki Jizz and Oasis owner D'Arcy Drollinger. With an impending end date of Jan. 1, the showcase was Oasis' latest effort to attract supporters that could potentially save the fate of the club, which has become a destination for celebrities from Jane Fonda to Cher and a number of 'RuPaul's Drag Show' stars. Pop star Doja Cat was the latest to grace the beloved stage, debuting songs from her forthcoming album, 'Vie' during an intimate performance after her headlining set at Outside Lands on Friday, Aug. 8. Dolores' LGBTQ-centered programming continues on Sunday, Aug. 10, with performances curated by Polyglamorous, a San Francisco dance-party series. The lineup includes a DJ set from 'Friday' singer Rebecca Black and a drag act from San Francisco performer Vivvy.
